I had to adjust my valves 3 times before replacing them just a while back. And that was 11 months after buying the bike. I wouldn't say it was a problem, just needed to stay on top of things. The X is great for trails, which is what it was made for. If you are wanting the electic start in a race bike then with a few mods you should be able to do what ever you want with the X. I'm replacing my valves with stainless steel ones from Kibble White this fall. Yes it will cost some bucks at first, but in the long haul it will be worth it. So you might look into what you can afford and decide from there.